On the first anniversary of the annexation of Crimea last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russians and Ukrainians belonged to 'one nation'. The statement sends shivers down the spine of political scientist Alvydas Medalinskas in the conservative daily Lietuvos žinios: » more

On the first anniversary of the annexation of Crimea last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russians and Ukrainians belonged to 'one nation'. The statement sends shivers down the spine of political scientist Alvydas Medalinskas in the conservative daily Lietuvos žinios: "Unfortunately history has already seen a case of a despot denying another nation's right to exist. ... Last year's annexation of Crimea and Moscow's threats against Ukraine are very reminiscent of the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland. ... Everything started with the annexation of Austria. Hitler announced that the two neighbouring countries were in fact one nation. He didn't believe in the existence of the Austrian people, holding that the Austrians were part of the Germanic nation. Now Putin has announced that there is no such thing as the Ukrainian nation. Just two branches of the same Slavic nation."

EU leaders meet today in Brussels to decide on the sanctions against Russia. The lack of consensus will once again prevent a strong stance vis-à-vis Moscow, Brussels correspondent Cristian Unteanu comments on the blog of the liberal-conservative daily Adevărul: » more

EU leaders meet today in Brussels to decide on the sanctions against Russia. The lack of consensus will once again prevent a strong stance vis-à-vis Moscow, Brussels correspondent Cristian Unteanu comments on the blog of the liberal-conservative daily Adevărul: "Should the pressure on Russia to implement the Minsk agreement continue unabated or will prolonging the sanctions only worsen the current climate? ... How should Europe react, whose 28 countries defend their own national values before all others? ... This is the key to the problem. ... Russia has a simple approach to the democratic system problem - all decision-making power is concentrated in a single institution led by Vladimir Putin. This imbalance [between Russia and the EU] represents the biggest threat in this moment so charged with tensions and pregnant with unknown quantities."

Germans can't understand the Ukrainians' fight against the pro-Russian separatists, writes German journalist Gerhard Gnauck on the Ukrainian web portal Novoe Vremja: "No one in Germany has any more illusions about Putin's behaviour. The comments in the papers after Minsk II make that clear. The division of Ukraine is now a bitter reality, Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger writes in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: 'The West should treat the part of the country that is not controlled by the pro-Russian forces as they treated the former West Germany.' ... What I see lacking in our television media is any form of solidarity with a state and people who are selflessly fighting an aggressor. Why is this? Because the Germans really don't like to fight. Most of them can't even respect other people when they fight. Lenin was right when he said that the Germans aren't good at revolutions. Even the fall of the Berlin Wall wasn't the result of a fight but came as a surprise for everyone. That's the main reason why they consider it necessary to celebrate the 'the peaceful revolution' year after year."

The murder of regime critic Boris Nemtsov has highlighted yet again that the West needs a new approach to dealing with the Russian leadership, columnist Gideon Rachman observes in the conservative daily Financial Times: » more

The murder of regime critic Boris Nemtsov has highlighted yet again that the West needs a new approach to dealing with the Russian leadership, columnist Gideon Rachman observes in the conservative daily Financial Times: "[The] Russian president and his acolytes undoubtedly created the atmosphere of nationalist paranoia that made his assassination permissible. … The Putin government's record of lies and violence should now prompt a further reappraisal. Mr Putin has shown that he is a threat to his own people and to neighbouring countries. It would be wise to assume that he is also a threat to the west. Efforts at dialogue with the Russian leader have proved largely futile. Instead, the west should concentrate on containing Russia - as it once contained the Soviet Union. That should mean increased economic aid to Ukraine. It should mean increased military spending and a stronger Nato presence in Poland and the Baltic states. And it should mean tightened economic sanctions on Russia, aimed particularly at the ruling elite."

In a hearing before the US Senate on Thursday, US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper warned of the possibility of an attack on the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol in the spring. It's there that the Minsk peace agreement will really prove its worth, the liberal business paper Hospodářské noviny believes: » more

In a hearing before the US Senate on Thursday, US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper warned of the possibility of an attack on the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol in the spring. It's there that the Minsk peace agreement will really prove its worth, the liberal business paper Hospodářské noviny believes: "As things look now the ceasefire no longer only exists on paper. For the second day in a row not a single soldier has been killed. And the Ukrainian army has also started to withdraw its heavy weapons, in accordance with the Minsk agreement. ... Less promising, however, is the statement by the head of the 'Donetsk People's Republic' that Mariupol on the Sea of Azov belongs to the separatists' territory. Mariupol will be the test of whether the ceasefire can be called the first step to peace or just a pause in the fighting."

Kiev is accusing the pro-Russian separatists of continuing to fire at Ukrainian targets and on Monday retracted plans to withdraw heavy weapons for the time being. The West can't figure out what the separatists are up to, the liberal daily NRC Handelsblad concludes: » more

Kiev is accusing the pro-Russian separatists of continuing to fire at Ukrainian targets and on Monday retracted plans to withdraw heavy weapons for the time being. The West can't figure out what the separatists are up to, the liberal daily NRC Handelsblad concludes: "The separatists and their partners in Russia continue to play a dangerous game. Their behaviour clearly contradicts the Minsk agreement. On the other hand they're ensuring that the last rays of hope in the West don't fade away completely. In the meantime an exchange of prisoners has taken place, and the separatists have said that they've begun withdrawing their heavy weapons. In this way the West remains divided about whether the agreement is simply worthless or attempts should be made to save what can be saved."

With the Ukrainian army's withdrawal from Debaltseve the Minsk II agreement was violated just a few days after coming into effect. The division of Ukraine is now irreversible, the left-liberal daily Der Standard fears: » more

With the Ukrainian army's withdrawal from Debaltseve the Minsk II agreement was violated just a few days after coming into effect. The division of Ukraine is now irreversible, the left-liberal daily Der Standard fears: "Despite the economic difficulties sparked by the drop in oil prices and the Western sanctions - and of course also thanks to his total control of the media - Putin enjoys a popularity rate of over 80 percent. In this context it remains questionable whether even the much-discussed US weapons deliveries to Ukraine could force Putin to back down. Instead, Angela Merkel and the majority of European observers fear an escalation of Russian pressure with unforeseeable consequences. Not even long-term hopes for Russia's unavoidable economic collapse and the superiority of Western prosperity can reverse the division of Ukraine."

Following his army's withdrawal from Debaltseve Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko wants to invite a UN-backed European policing mission to the country. But such a mission would be in vain, the left-leaning daily taz believes: » more

Following his army's withdrawal from Debaltseve Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko wants to invite a UN-backed European policing mission to the country. But such a mission would be in vain, the left-leaning daily taz believes: "Firstly the EU is far too partisan in the Ukraine conflict. Secondly there is no reason to believe that a lightly-armed EU policing mission would be any more able to get the better of its heavily armed adversaries than the unarmed OSCE observers. ... If at all, only a robustly armed UN troop - ideally comprising Blue Helmets from states that are neither directly nor indirectly involved in the conflict - would be able to do that. But this is just idle speculation. Because any UN Security Council mandate for any mission in Ukraine that goes beyond the current powerless OSCE mission will be vetoed by Moscow."

After the retreat of Ukrainian troops from Debaltseve, President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday called for a UN mission in eastern Ukraine. The Minsk peace agreement ... » more

After the retreat of Ukrainian troops from Debaltseve, President Petro Poroshenko on Wednesday called for a UN mission in eastern Ukraine. The Minsk peace agreement has already failed, some commentators observe. Others believe that the advance of the pro-Russian separatists has ended with the taking of Debaltseve and peace is now possible.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel underestimated the importance of the US and Russia in the Ukraine conflict and overestimated her own, the left-liberal daily Delo suspects: » more

German Chancellor Angela Merkel underestimated the importance of the US and Russia in the Ukraine conflict and overestimated her own, the left-liberal daily Delo suspects: "The war in Ukraine is the biggest threat to peace in Europe. ... The US and Russia are already taking over leadership of the western and eastern regions of Ukraine and the country is falling apart. The two major powers and also Ukraine itself are equally to blame for this process. Regardless of the illusion that Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande were saving Europe, there is little doubt that the German chancellor overestimated herself in this crisis. In the geopolitical trial of strength between Russia and the US she is helpless and not powerful enough. Unlike in Europe, where Angela Merkel is the unofficial president."

The Western politicians' naivety is to blame for what has happened in Debaltseve since again and again they allow themselves to believe that Russia is a serious negotiating partner, Tomasz Walczak complains in the conservative daily Super Express: » more

The Western politicians' naivety is to blame for what has happened in Debaltseve since again and again they allow themselves to believe that Russia is a serious negotiating partner, Tomasz Walczak complains in the conservative daily Super Express: "I would love to see the faces of Angela Merkel and François Hollande now, who with their Minsk agreement vouched for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. They are now actors in a new show staged by Putin. And once again they have allowed themselves to be deceived. Yesterday we saw yet another confirmation of how any deal with the Russian president isn't worth the paper its written on. ... Naturally the West has effective instruments to defy Putin. But first it must accept the reality that Merkel and Hollande have so far refused to face."

Poroshenko announced last week that he wanted to impose martial law in case the ceasefire failed. But that's the wrong way to go, the news portal Spiegel Online warns: » more

Poroshenko announced last week that he wanted to impose martial law in case the ceasefire failed. But that's the wrong way to go, the news portal Spiegel Online warns: "One year after the revolution, Ukraine would then be well on the way to betraying the ideals for which the people protested on Maidan in the first place. For that reason the Ukrainian army should lay down its arms. True, Ukraine has legality on its side. But Donbass is lost - at least for now. If Poroshenko doesn't understand that he stands to lose an even greater battle: the fight for a modern, European Ukraine. For its part the West must provide Ukraine with massive financial support. That is the price for maintaining stability in the EU's vicinity. And in any case, the cost of a war would be significantly higher."

The taking of Debaltseve by pro-Russian separatists could be followed by further attacks on Ukrainian cities, the liberal-conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung warns: » more

The taking of Debaltseve by pro-Russian separatists could be followed by further attacks on Ukrainian cities, the liberal-conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung warns: "The fall of Debaltseve must give everyone pause for thought who adamantly believes the Ukraine conflict can be solved at the negotiating table. Now those who are ready to deliver weapons to Kiev have fresh arguments at their disposal. Ukraine is far inferior to Russia in military terms, which makes it susceptible to blackmail. At any moment Moscow could use military means to create a land corridor to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. It is far from certain that the separatists' - and Moscow's - hunger for land will be satisfied with the fall of Debaltseve, as those who oppose weapons deliveries hope. But what will happen if the separatists try to take Mariupol? This city is also strategically important for the rebels, particularly because of its port. And they also consider it theirs."

The heavy fighting over Debaltseve in recent days could indicate that both sides assume the ceasefire will last, the left-liberal daily The Guardian believes: » more

The heavy fighting over Debaltseve in recent days could indicate that both sides assume the ceasefire will last, the left-liberal daily The Guardian believes: "It was obvious as soon as the Ukraine ceasefire was agreed last week that both sides would fight hard in the time before it came into force to either seize or deny territory, particularly in Debaltseve. ... Such land grabs are violations but they may also demonstrate an expectation that the truce will last. Why expend men and materiel to gain an advantage unless you expect to be able to lock it in? So the Russians and the separatists probably thought they could get away with it and then transform themselves into supposedly dutiful observers of the agreement afterwards."

The pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine took most of the city of Debaltseve on Tuesday despite the ceasefire in effect since Sunday. Clearly Vladimir Putin continues to be in charge in the region, the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung comments: » more

The pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine took most of the city of Debaltseve on Tuesday despite the ceasefire in effect since Sunday. Clearly Vladimir Putin continues to be in charge in the region, the conservative daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung comments: "There are some things you can't accuse Putin of, for example leaving his negotiating partners in the dark about what a Russian ceasefire looks like. Already in Minsk he made it clear that the fight for Debaltseve was not part of the deal. ... Even if the separatists' hunger for land has been stilled momentarily with the taking of the city, after such a defeat Ukrainian President Poroshenko will no doubt find it even harder to implement the Minsk agreement in Kiev. And in other respects too it's business as usual: after doing all they could on the telephone to save the agreement, the German chancellor and the French president have once again been humiliated. And the OSCE observers are nothing but a façade. Putin remains in charge."

The voices of those who want confrontation are dominating the debate over the Ukraine conflict, author Kalin Tersijski laments in the daily newspaper Novinar: » more

The voices of those who want confrontation are dominating the debate over the Ukraine conflict, author Kalin Tersijski laments in the daily newspaper Novinar: "In the not too distant past the intellectual pacifists would have long since drawn attention to the many cultural, linguistic and historical commonalities between Russia and Ukraine. The goal would have been to make people convince the powers that be and the warmongers in this world that there are more reasons for peace than for war. ... But today only dull fear prevails, fuelled by hate-filled voices: 'Russia is a threat to its neighbours', 'Ukraine is a Nazi state', 'The US is inciting a war because it wants to sell its weapons' or 'the Jewish bankers need another bloodbath to get their billions circulating'. The songs of the humanists and pacifists have faded into silence. Are they all gone?"

The West must provide support for Kiev and adopt a firm stance with regard to Moscow after the conclusion of the Minsk agreement, the liberal daily The Moscow Times believes: » more

The West must provide support for Kiev and adopt a firm stance with regard to Moscow after the conclusion of the Minsk agreement, the liberal daily The Moscow Times believes: "The Minsk agreement cannot be rolled back, but the West can mitigate the damage. Western sanctions against Russia must not be relaxed until every point in the Minsk agreement has been implemented. ​... Above all, the West should redouble its support to Ukraine - not only financial and technical, but also military. It is in Europe's interests that Ukraine should be the stable democracy that the Maidan protesters wanted it to be - and with a neighbor like Russia, that can never be guaranteed without robust defenses. The EU should let go of its illusions. It has spent two decades trying to develop a rules-based relationship with Russia. It is time to accept that its efforts have failed. Now the West has to invest in protecting itself and those who aspire to join it."

After the murder of the Coptic Christians in Libya French President François Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have called for a special meeting of the UN Security Council. Europe is leaving the stage to France, the liberal daily Corriere del Ticino complains: » more

After the murder of the Coptic Christians in Libya French President François Hollande and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi have called for a special meeting of the UN Security Council. Europe is leaving the stage to France, the liberal daily Corriere del Ticino complains: "Europe is not interested in its southern border. Neither the flood of refugees nor the concrete threat of Islamist radicalism have galvanised it into action. ... Europe is shirking its responsibilities because there's no one to take over in an emergency. As in Greece and Ukraine, it's only too happy to let others take the limelight. In the case of Libya, it's France's turn. A France that is well disposed to al-Sisi, with whom it does good business."

Renewed fighting has broken out in eastern Ukraine despite the ceasefire that has been in effect since Sunday. The leaders of France, Ukraine and Germany called on Monday for free access for observers of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). However they face an almost impossible task, comments the liberal business paper Handelsblatt: » more

Renewed fighting has broken out in eastern Ukraine despite the ceasefire that has been in effect since Sunday. The leaders of France, Ukraine and Germany called on Monday for free access for observers of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). However they face an almost impossible task, comments the liberal business paper Handelsblatt: "The observers are dependent on one thing: the good will of the warring parties. But often enough that's just what's been lacking in the disputed region. In this delicate situation observing a peace plan without weapons is tantamount to a 'mission impossible'. ... Yet again the OSCE runs the risk of being humiliated by the warring parties. To prevent that, the OSCE has no choice but to arm itself and deploy the necessary armoured vehicles. ... The fact that of all parties the Western friends of embattled Ukraine are opposed to a mission similar to that of the UN peacekeeping troops could soon prove a fatal mistake."

Europe is finally taking on the role of a global player, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera writes, and calls the talks in Minsk a success: » more

Europe is finally taking on the role of a global player, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera writes, and calls the talks in Minsk a success: "Merkel and Hollande, courageous representatives of an EU that remains divided even with a war raging right on its doorstep, have prevented the negotiations from failing. Thanks to the chancellor and the president Europe has emerged from the Minsk summit more influential and more self-confident. ... It will take strong political will on the part of the four participants and also the US for the agreements to be implemented. In the meantime Minsk has been generous to the Kremlin chief and met the news of the annexation of the Crimea with a deafening silence. But it would be a mistake to talk of winners and losers today. The game has only just kicked off."

The Minsk ceasefire mainly strengthens Russian President Vladimir Putin's position, the left-liberal daily Libération laments: "On the one hand the new text doesn't make any mention of the word 'Crimea', meaning the region is to all extents and purposes abandoned to Russia, while a federalised Ukraine with an eastern flank under Russian influence, even if it too is not specifically mentioned, is fully established in spirit. Hence the balance of power remains in Putin's favour. It was enough to watch and hear the European leaders. Most of them remained guarded, Angela Merkel first and foremost, who stressed that she harboured no illusions for the future. Every day of peace is welcome, there can be no doubt about that. Unless, that is, it allows the one with the advantage on the ground to reinforce his position."

The result of the Minsk peace talks is fragile and reminiscent of the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the conservative daily Večernji List criticises: » more

The result of the Minsk peace talks is fragile and reminiscent of the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the conservative daily Večernji List criticises: "One can hardly expect an end to the bloodbath in Ukraine with the ceasefire that's been agreed on. Putin has once more got what he wants with this agreement, in this case autonomy for eastern Ukraine. But the question is whether that's good for Ukraine and whether the agreement will hold. Because autonomy for Luhansk and Donetsk would mean that the Russians have a firm foothold in the country. ... All of this is reminiscent of the unfortunate division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the conqueror got the biggest slice of the pie and a land was created that remains dysfunctional even today."

The results of the Minsk talks have far exceeded expectations as far as Bloomberg View correspondent Leonid Beršidskij is concerned. In a commentary piece for the liberal daily Sme he writes: » more

The results of the Minsk talks have far exceeded expectations as far as Bloomberg View correspondent Leonid Beršidskij is concerned. In a commentary piece for the liberal daily Sme he writes: "Angela Merkel admitted after the talks that she has no illusions and that the ceasefire is a fragile one. The fervent Ukrainian patriots may see the deal as a betrayal. The separatists and the Russians who pull the strings will be hungry for more territorial gains and stronger guarantees that Ukraine won't enter Western alliances. But if the weapons are silenced it will give Ukraine the chance of a peaceful solution and Putin an economic reprieve. And the EU would foil the efforts of the hardliners in the US. ... These are all successes for which the participants deserve to be congratulated. Even if the ceasefire doesn't hold, the talks made it clear that there is a strong will to achieve a durable solution."

The agreement reached at the Minsk summit won't stop the conflict in Ukraine because the Russian president's main objective remains the re-establishment of a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, the conservative daily fears: » more

The agreement reached at the Minsk summit won't stop the conflict in Ukraine because the Russian president's main objective remains the re-establishment of a sphere of influence in Eastern Europe, the conservative daily fears: "The Minsk II agreement will only succeed if Mr Putin has decided to tone down his confrontation with Ukraine and the west. But there is no sign he is willing to do so. Many factors, including Russia's economic crisis and the ferocious anti-western campaign now being waged in the Russia media, suggest that the Kremlin leader's ambitions stretch beyond Ukraine and that he strives to reassert a Russian sphere of influence in eastern Europe. ... It would be wise to assume that Minsk II is little more than a tactical pause."

The Minsk agreement condemns Ukraine to the same scenario Russia has imposed on other countries in its vicinity, the daily Tages-Anzeiger criticises: » more

The Minsk agreement condemns Ukraine to the same scenario Russia has imposed on other countries in its vicinity, the daily Tages-Anzeiger criticises: "Once again a country has been put in a 'neither here nor there' situation through the externally-imposed freezing of an unresolved conflict: neither East nor West, neither European Union nor Eurasian Union. This is already the case in Georgia with the frozen conflict in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in Moldova with Transnistria, in Armenia and Azerbaijan with Nagorno-Karabakh. In these neighbouring countries Moscow has put all its effort into preserving a state of tension to keep itself in the game in the hopes of increasing its clout. Russia wants to be taken seriously on the world stage and to be on an equal footing with the US. In reality, however, Moscow has only highlighted how unattractive it is even in Ukraine: only by resorting to the crude force of arms has it been able to prevent the country from determining its own future."

In view of the differences of opinion between Germany and the US over weapons deliveries to Ukraine it's time for a paradigm shift in relations between Europe and the EU, the weekly newspaper Die Zeit believes: » more

In view of the differences of opinion between Germany and the US over weapons deliveries to Ukraine it's time for a paradigm shift in relations between Europe and the EU, the weekly newspaper Die Zeit believes: "No one should try to whitewash this Transatlantic conflict by describing it as a division of labour. Sanctions and weapons deliveries do not complement one another. If America presses ahead militarily, EU consensus on the sanctions will be a thing of the past. ... This discussion clearly exemplifies how decades of American dominance in issues of European foreign policy have influenced attitudes on this side of the Atlantic. ... The US's impatience is not directed at Putin but at Chancellor Merkel. Anyone who does not allow enough time for the EU's policy of sanctions to take effect is playing into the hands of the Kremlin. If there is to be an escalation, then let it be with the sanctions! ... Of course the West must not become divided. For that reason this time the US must cede to Europe's leaders."

At the Minsk crisis summit Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France have agreed on a ceasefire in Ukraine due to take effect on Sunday. Ultimately only arms supplies to Kiev may end the conflict, columnist Roger Cohen writes in the left-liberal daily The New York Times: » more

At the Minsk crisis summit Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France have agreed on a ceasefire in Ukraine due to take effect on Sunday. Ultimately only arms supplies to Kiev may end the conflict, columnist Roger Cohen writes in the left-liberal daily The New York Times: "There is a language Moscow understands: antitank missiles, battlefield radars, reconnaissance drones. Bolster the Ukrainian Army with them and other arms. Change Putin's cost-benefit analysis. There are risks but no policy is risk-free. Recall that Ukraine gave up more than 1,800 nuclear warheads in exchange for that bogus commitment from Russia back in 1994 to respect its sovereignty and borders. Surely it has thereby earned the right to something more than night-vision goggles."

Instead of supporting Ukraine the German government has been doing all it can to avoid provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin's ire since the start of the crisis almost a year ago, Thomas Rietzschel complains in the Blog Achse des Guten: » more

Instead of supporting Ukraine the German government has been doing all it can to avoid provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin's ire since the start of the crisis almost a year ago, Thomas Rietzschel complains in the Blog Achse des Guten: "The government used to tell us it was defending our freedom in Afghanistan. German soldiers were deployed beyond the mountains there and lost their lives. However now that the threat has moved a lot closer to home, there is to be no talk of this kind of defensive readiness. It seems it's far preferable to appease the aggressor with territorial gains that don't cost us a thing. This may be a sensible approach in the short term, but it is also shameless. Those who use it, who reach out their hand, should stop citing European values in doing so. Hypocrisy doesn't solve any problems."

Angela Merkel is discovering the limits of her power in her struggle for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict, the liberal-conservative Neuen Zürcher Zeitung writes and points to a decisive mistake in the German chancellor's negotiating strategy: » more

Angela Merkel is discovering the limits of her power in her struggle for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict, the liberal-conservative Neuen Zürcher Zeitung writes and points to a decisive mistake in the German chancellor's negotiating strategy: "Merkel's mission in Moscow is a textbook example of German power. German power is above all economic power. Germany can woo others with the prospect of close ties to the EU market and greater involvement of German companies. And it can threaten to prevent both through sanctions. ... What Germany lacks in terms of foreign policy instruments is the military aspect of power. Merkel's position in Moscow would be much stronger if she hadn't ruled out arms supplies to Ukraine or if she had at least left Putin in the dark about it. Her rejection of this option made it clear from the start that the Europeans wouldn't join in even in the unlikely event of Obama deciding to go for it."

The biggest obstacle to an agreement in Minsk is the fact that the inviolability of Europe's borders on which the East and West agreed in 1974 in the Helsinki Final Act has repeatedly been breached, the left-liberal daily Dnevnik criticises: » more

The biggest obstacle to an agreement in Minsk is the fact that the inviolability of Europe's borders on which the East and West agreed in 1974 in the Helsinki Final Act has repeatedly been breached, the left-liberal daily Dnevnik criticises: "To cite the rules of the Helsinki Final Act in Minsk in the Ukraine conflict is hypocritical. ... The EU is mistaken if it believes that spreading its influence beyond the Don River makes it any safer in its cocoon. The crossing of the line which US President Obama vehemently accuses Russia of has triggered events with an unpredictable outcome. But right now it looks more like war than peace. Particularly if both sides start supplying Ukraine with weapons."

Whatever the outcome of the negotiations in Minsk Russia will come out the loser, political scientist Jonathan Holslag predicts in the left-leaning daily De Morgen: » more

Whatever the outcome of the negotiations in Minsk Russia will come out the loser, political scientist Jonathan Holslag predicts in the left-leaning daily De Morgen: "Even a diplomatic success in Minsk will be followed by a political hangover. The curtain of propaganda cannot hide the desperate state of the Russian economy or the plight of the population. ... Putin could respond by taking the initiative and fuelling nationalism with a strong foreign policy. But the question is how long he can keep this up. Economically and militarily his means are limited. The war in Ukraine will only accelerate Russia's decline. It not only puts domestic security at risk but could also lead to further shifts in the geopolitical dividing lines."